Solomon Islands defended its move to bar some partners from an influential summit of South Pacific leaders, brushing aside claims on Thursday of a looming split or that China is influencing its decisions.

China, the United States and Taiwan have all been barred from the annual Pacific Islands Forum in Honiara next month, an event they usually attend.

China counts the Solomon Islands among its closest partners in the South Pacific and signed a secretive security pact with Honiara in 2022.

It has been accused of agitating behind the scenes to see Taiwan excluded from attending the Forum as an observer.

The Pacific bloc's top diplomats met in Fiji on Thursday to discuss the Forum's agenda, and Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka said his nation was not influenced by Chin

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